King Yanz
King Yanz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Yannik Kiswamu September 7, 1997 Jakobstad, Finland |
| Citizenship | Finnish |
| Occupation | |
| Relatives | MartySoWavey (Brother), Zina Lea (Sister) |
King Yanz (born Yannik Kiswamu) is a Finnish-born Congolese rapper, singer and performer.[1] He is known for blending hip-hop, R&B, funk, jazz and soul influences, as well as for an artistic identity shaped across Finland, the United Kingdom and Spain.
Early life and background
King Yanz was born in Jakobstad, Finland, to parents of Congolese origin. His father was among the first 23 Congolese people to arrive in Finland. The family initially settled in Jakobstad, a predominantly Swedish-speaking town, where Yanz spent his early childhood.[2]
The environment and community in Jakobstad played an important role in shaping his early values and sense of identity. He has described the period as foundational, with influences that would later reappear in his music and artistic themes.
The family later moved to the Oulunkylä district of Helsinki, where he encountered social challenges related to identity, belonging and race. He has spoken about difficulties integrating into peer groups and experiences of bullying during childhood, which later became recurring themes in his work.
During his adolescence, Yanz relocated to London due to his mother’s work. While the move exposed him to a more diverse cultural environment, it also brought new challenges related to identity, particularly in how he was perceived in relation to nationality and heritage.
His upbringing across Finland, the United Kingdom and his Congolese background has remained central to his artistic perspective.
Citizenship and military service
As a young adult living in the United Kingdom, Yanz considered giving up his Finnish citizenship. However, due to administrative complications, the process was not completed.[3]
He later returned to Finland and completed compulsory military service in the Finnish Defence Forces. He has described this period as personally significant, contributing to a stronger sense of belonging and connection to Finland.
Music career and artistry
Yanz began making music at a young age, developing his early direction alongside his brother, Martysowavey. From the start, music functioned less as a planned career path and more as a natural extension of environment, influence and lived experience.
Working under the name King Yanz, he has built his career independently, shaped by the UK rap and R&B scenes as well as wider urban music culture. Rather than positioning himself within a single scene, his sound reflects movement between contexts — Finland, the UK and beyond — and the cultural references that come with that in-between space.[4]
His music sits across hip hop, R&B, jazz and funk, but resists being contained by any of them. UK rap influences sit alongside live instrumentation, with bass-heavy foundations, guitar-driven arrangements and a balance between rap delivery and melodic phrasing. The result is a sound that shifts rather than settles, drawing from both contemporary production and older soul and funk traditions.[5]
Live instrumentation is not an addition but a consistent part of his process, present both in recorded work and in performance. It gives the music a sense of unpredictability and space that contrasts with strictly programmed production.
He has also collaborated with artists from the UK rap scene, including tracks such as “Ray” featuring Yung Fume, “Fast Lane” featuring Double S, and “Sing About Me” featuring Shocka, reflecting his connection to and influence from the UK music landscape.
Lyrically, his work tends to circle personal experience without framing it as narrative explanation. Identity, belonging and cultural navigation appear repeatedly, shaped by a life lived across Finland, the United Kingdom and multiple overlapping cultural environments.
Live performances
Yanz performs in multiple live formats, including acoustic sets, DJ-based shows and full band performances with Yanz & the Kingzmen.
His live shows combine rap vocals with live instrumentation and elements of improvisation, drawing from hip hop, jazz, funk and soul traditions. Rather than relying entirely on fixed backing tracks, his performances often leave space for variation, depending on the setting and the musicians involved.
A recurring aspect of his live approach is adaptability. Performances are shaped through interaction with the audience, the dynamics between musicians and the atmosphere of the venue, allowing each show to develop differently.
He has performed at venues and music events across Europe, including appearances in cities such as Barcelona and Tallinn.
Dangerous
In 2026, Yanz released the single “Dangerous”, marking a shift towards a more refined and atmospheric sound ahead of his upcoming album.[6][7][8]
The track blends hip hop and R&B with groove-based basslines, crisp percussion and electric guitar elements. Its lyrical focus centres on themes of temptation, risk-taking and self-awareness, presenting a darker and more understated tone.[9][10]
The single was produced by MalkoGotMelodies.
Jeppisboy
Jeppisboy is an upcoming album by King Yanz, named after Jakobstad, a town on the west coast of Finland commonly known by the nickname “Jeppis”.
The project combines hip hop, R&B and live instrumentation while exploring themes of identity, upbringing and cultural belonging.[11]
The album features atmospheric production, layered arrangements and dreamlike elements, drawing inspiration from concepts such as lucid dreaming and shifting realities. Its sound and themes are influenced by King Yanz’s experiences growing up as a third culture kid, reflecting ideas related to identity, memory and self-perception.[12]
Management
Since 2020, King Yanz has been managed by Sofia Taxell.[13] Yanz and Taxell met in 2020 while both were in Helsinki, at a time when they had been living abroad and discovered a shared international perspective.
Taxell comes from a marketing background and has studied at institutions including Åbo Akademi University in Turku and Hult International Business School. Their collaboration initially began through marketing work related to Yanz’s career and later developed into full-time management.
Her background has also informed her creative involvement in Yanz’s visual output. Taxell has written and directed several of his music videos, including “Goodie”, “Lead the Legacy”, “Sing About Me” and “Fast Lane”. In the case of “Fast Lane”, the video was intentionally produced using an iPhone as a way to demonstrate that a music video can be created with minimal equipment while maintaining professional quality.
In addition to her work in music and visual production, Taxell has produced and co-produced live events and their accompanying aftermovies. These include Helsinki State of Mind at Kuudeslinja in Helsinki, Diamond in da Ruff BCN x King Yanz at Diobar in Barcelona, For Your Ears Only at Sala Or in Barcelona, and An Offer You Can’t Refuse at Parallel 62 in Barcelona.
Personal life
Yanz was born in Finland and has spoken publicly about growing up between different cultures and environments in Finland and the United Kingdom. He has described these experiences as shaping both his perspective and his music, particularly in relation to themes of identity, belonging and cultural duality.
In interviews, he has also discussed reconnecting with language and cultural identity later in life, including relearning Lingala and Swedish, both of which are connected to his family background and upbringing.[14][15]
Discography (Selected)
- Dangerous (2026) – single from Jeppisboy
- No Favours (2025) - single from Jeppisboy
- Jeppisboy (forthcoming album)
- Ray ft Yung Fume (2025) - single
- Fast Lane ft Double S (2025) - single
- Sing About Me ft. Shocka (2023) - single
- Money Machine ft Love & Axel (2024)
- Out of Order (2022) - album
Gallery
In the media
References
- ↑ "Yle Areena". Yle Areena (in suomi). Yleisradio. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "Yle article". Yle (in suomi). Yleisradio. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "Yle article". Yle (in suomi). Yleisradio. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "News: King Yanz shines on 'No Favours'". Backseat Mafia. Backseat Mafia. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "Discover King Yanz's eclectic R&B artistry in 'No Favours'". Mesmerized. Mesmerized. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "King Yanz shines on emphatic new single 'Dangerous'". Music Crowns. Music Crowns. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "King Yanz unleashes boundless new R&B-tinged rap single 'Dangrous'". Vents Magazine. Vents Magazine. 2026-04-10. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "King Yanz unveils dynamic new single 'Dangerous'". 24Hip-Hop. 24Hip-Hop. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "King Yanz – Dangerous". Wordplay Magazine. Wordplay Magazine. 2026-04-13. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "King Yanz – Dangerous". H-Wing. H-Wing. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "Yanz – Fast Lane". GRM Daily. GRM Daily. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "Yanz releases hard-hitting new single 'Ray'". Groove Africa. Groove Africa. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "Sofia Taxell". Sofia Taxell. Sofia Taxell. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "Suomalaissyntyinen King Yanz tekee tuloaan brittirapilla – luvassa on hartaasti tehty debyyttialbumi". Klangi (in suomi). Klangi. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- ↑ "King Yanz feature". Wordplay Magazine. Wordplay Magazine. 2025-11-24. Retrieved 2026-05-27.